Dawn arrives in shades of orange and blue; you will your legs to take one more step, one more; and then you see it, a simple sign with the word “Congratulations.” As you look upon the quilted land far below you, a profound peace settles over your tired body; you’ve done it, you have climbed Kilimanjaro.

Feel the exhilaration as you become a member of an elite group, those who have stood on the highest point in all of Africa. The Machame route is challenging but the rewards are great, with sweeping views and a variety of striking habitats that stimulate your senses as you climb. Dirt trails snake through lush pine forests; moorlands give way to semi-deserts which give way to alpine deserts which, finally, give way to a rocky, ice-capped summit. Evenings on Kilimanjaro are meant for contemplation and star gazing, and you’ll do both from your pup tent. ... Show More »

You’ll slowly begin to ascend from the forest zone into the heath zone, allowing your body to acclimatize. As you make your way to the first camp, you’ll bear witness to events some 60,000 years ago when a large section of the mountain collapsed. Continuing on, ascending into alpine desert, where the only green you’ll see are tussock grasses and curious moss balls, you’ll enjoy splendid views of Mawenzi peak. Depart just before midnight for the final summit bid so you reach the top as the first rays of dawn make their glorious appearance. Be sure to snap plenty of pictures so you can show the world what you’ve accomplished!

Kensington Tours offers local support in each region you visit, another reason we deliver unbeatable value. Enjoy a personalized vacation that best suits your needs, developed by one of our experienced destination experts. Relax during your trip with our 24/7 support and expert local guidance.
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Day 1:Arusha

Your private, English-speaking driver will meet you in the public waiting area after passing through baggage claim to transfer you to your hotel.

Prior to departing on your first day of activities, a trip representative will meet you at your hotel (often in the morning) to give you a briefing on the details of your trip.

While you are in the care of Kensington Tours, your safety and security are our number one priority. As such, in the unlikely event of serious illness or injury, all Kensington Tours clients are covered by “Flying Doctors” Insurance policy. This emergency evacuation insurance covers the cost of the evacuation flight back to Nairobi for treatment. This insurance policy however DOES NOT cover the cost of any medical treatment received. We highly recommend travel insurance for full coverage.

Accommodation: The Arusha Hotel

The Arusha Hotel is nestled in the most beautifully landscaped gardens in Arusha. With rolling lawns, abundant trees, a large variety of exotic plants and stunning iridescent birdlife, the gardens of The Arusha Hotel provide an oasis from the bustling town. The 86 rooms and suites offer gorgeous mountain or garden views. Overlooking the gardens, the Parachichi Restaurant, meaning ‘avocado’ in Swahili, is the perfect place for breakfast, lunch or dinner and with the sublime climate, the outdoor terrace offers a tranquil setting. Relax with a cocktail at Bustani Bar or The Hatari Bar, situated next to the swimming pool. Enjoy swimming or sun-bathing at the large and inviting swimming pool, or relax in the open-air Jacuzzi. There is also a fitness centre available to guests that features a variety of machines and weights.

Excursion guides and crews are specifically trained and instructed to ensure, wherever possible, that our guests can walk off the mountain, unaided, themselves. They are also trained extensively on monitoring systems and also management of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), and more advanced forms of mountain sickness such as HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema).

In the morning you are picked up at 8am from your hotel and drive to Machame gate to collect your permits. There is then an hour drive to the Umbwe gate where after checking in you set off up through the forest zone. This first day of hiking is not overly difficult but certainly steepens towards the latter end of the day. In the late afternoon you arrive in the first camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

An overnight camp area will be set up in a clearing on the trail. Clients must provide their own sleeping bag, however clients will be provided with:

Client Tent: a lightweight 2-person "pup" tent used for 2 people (unless specifically booked for single occupancy), as well as a foam pad for sleeping. Tent is 52" high, 92" front to back, 82" across. Floor area: 48 sq. ft.

Day 3:Kilimanjaro

The second day ascends from the forest zone into the heath zone and there are some very steep sections here. Taking it easy is essential to allow your body to acclimatise. A picnic lunch is taken on route and then in the afternoon you arrive into Barranco camp in time to relax for a while before dinner. The views of the Barranco wall and western breach pertain to events some 60,000 years ago when this whole part of the mountain collapsed.

Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

Barranco Trail

Day 4:Kilimanjaro

Today is a walk-high sleep-low day. You ascend into alpine desert and for those that are feeling strong you can even head up to Lava Tower before descending to the Barranco Camp. Lunch is taken as a picnic lunch on route. This is long day but pays dividends later on - great acclimatisation day!

Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

Barranco Trail

Day 5:Kilimanjaro

Today is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi peak are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the evening.

Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

Approaching Mawenzi Peak

Day 6:Kilimanjaro

Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence is the name of game to reach the summit and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down and your goal today is to reach Mweka Camp before dusk.

Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

Kilimanjaro Summit

Day 7:Kilimanjaro - Arusha

After breakfast you descend once again through montane forest and around mid day after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transfer back to your accommodation.

You'll have access to a day room prior to your international departure. Clean up from the road, take a nap, use the room as a base while you explore, or simply relax before checking out at 6pm and heading on to check into your international flight home.

You’ll enjoy an airport transfer between your Arusha hotel and Kilimanjaro International Airport with a private vehicle and English speaking driver.

Accommodation:

We can customize this private tour just for you. Any element can be tailored – activities, length, hotels and destinations. Call us at 1 888 903-2001 or request a quote.

Trip Terms & Conditions

Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $350). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.

Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of 30% of program price. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to loss of 100% of program price.

Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary

Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.

Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.

Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions

Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.

The Arusha Hotel : Arusha

The Arusha Hotel is nestled in the most beautifully landscaped gardens in Arusha. With rolling lawns, abundant trees, a large variety of exotic plants and stunning iridescent birdlife, the gardens of The Arusha Hotel provide an oasis from the bustling town. The 86 rooms and suites offer gorgeous mountain or garden views. Overlooking the gardens, the Parachichi Restaurant, meaning ‘avocado’ in Swahili, is the perfect place for breakfast, lunch or dinner and with the sublime climate, the outdoor terrace offers a tranquil setting. Relax with a cocktail at Bustani Bar or The Hatari Bar, situated next to the swimming pool. Enjoy swimming or sun-bathing at the large and inviting swimming pool, or relax in the open-air Jacuzzi. There is also a fitness centre available to guests that features a variety of machines and weights.

The Arusha Hotel

The Arusha Hotel

Lightweight Tent (B,L,D): Kilimanjaro

An overnight camp area will be set up in a clearing on the trail. Clients must provide their own sleeping bag, however clients will be provided with:

Client Tent: a lightweight 2-person "pup" tent used for 2 people (unless specifically booked for single occupancy), as well as a foam pad for sleeping. Tent is 52" high, 92" front to back, 82" across. Floor area: 48 sq. ft.

Our Kensington Tour to Tanzania was excellent. All of our accommodations were top-notch, our flights were fantastic, and every single detail was taken care of. We were extremely impressed with how welcoming and knowledgeable our guides were.

Neal F. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

Best trip ever. Sarah was a delight to work with and answered all of our questions and concerns professionally and courteously. It was a trip of a lifetime and everything was fantastic. Thank u Sarah and thank you Kensington

Rachel F. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

Kensington Tours gave us a wonderful trip with the best guide and accommodations. They helped us book flights to avoid long drives and answered all of our questions going above and beyond. Thank you for all your help giving my family and I a trip of a lifetime! We cannot wait to go back to Africa and do it again using Kensington!

Jeffrey L. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

We wanted the full safari experience and Kensington was able to deliver it. We had the perfect mix of tents and lodges and honestly can say we saw about everything we could have in our time there. Our Kensington guide Elijah was very knowledgeable and friendly. He was basically a member of the family by the end of the trip. The entire trip was planned out perfectly. Thanks to Kensington and we hope to travel with them again in the future.

Sarah M. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

We had such a tremendous trip! We covered a lot of geography, plants and animals - both aquatic and land based. Every guide we had was knowledgeable and very personable. When Grootbos and then Madikwe found out it was my husband's birthday - our guide at Grootbos "Nita" arranged a private party for him (and us) and our chef and butler at Little Madikwe, Violet and Patience, baked cupcakes and got a small group together to sing happy birthday - in English and Afrikaans! We could never have seen so much on our own. The knowledge we gained about South African people, places, animals and history made this our trip of a lifetime! Thank you!

Sasha T. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

We had the most amazing time on our trip. Very grateful to Kensington for organizing all the pick ups and details so we didn't have to think or worry - we could just enjoy ourselves. Will absolutely recommend this trip to family and friends and hope to use Kensington again in the future for our next adventure. Thanks so much!

Kristin C. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

From the minute we landed, everything was taken care of. Every driver and guide we had were very friendly and efficient. The highlight of our trip was our stay at Kapama Southern Camp, everything about this place was amazing. We were all sad to leave and would love to return there in the future. Would highly recommend booking as many people there as possible.

Eric W. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

Madagascar is a very poor country with spotty infrastructure. We used Kensington for their knowledge of the area and their resources and we are very pleased. Our driver for the trip was very professional and knowledgeable of the area and the guide that we used for the rainforest walks was equally knowledgeable and professional. Bari, our guide, had a passion for the area and wanted to make sure we were able to get the best picture of each sighting. Franco, our driver, had a passion for his country and the sights and he was a definite asset on our trip.

Tom B. — August 10, 2016 — Africa

Guides were incredibly well-informed and taught my wife and I about the environment, animals, and culture. Our tour would have just been commonplace, without them.

Mary R. — July 20, 2016 — Africa

Going with Kensington Tours was a great decision. The transfers between resorts was handled very professionally and extremely smooth. I will plan my next trip to South Africa with Kensington. Money well spent!

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“Our trip was a perfect 10 - exceeding all expectations. We were blown away by the quality of our tours, accommodations and guides. Thank you for giving us a great experience and wonderful memories!”– Karen Kuwahara